Introduction. The Untethered Soul is Michael A. Singer’s third of five books. He wrote two books in the late 1970s, which gained little traction. Then, after about a three-decade hiatus from writing, in 2007 he wrote The Untethered Soul, a New York Times bestseller, followed by another bestseller in 2015, and a sequel to The Untethered Soul in 2022. Through these books, Singer brings a Western perspective to the predominantly Eastern spiritual concepts of yoga, the meaning of life, and New Age philosophies on the concept of self, which have all seen wide appeal across Western demographics.
Analysis. This book opens with a critical examination of a person’s “inner dialogue” and assesses its utility for day-to-day functioning. Singer concludes that inner dialogue is more injurious than helpful; that it can be minimized or eliminated altogether for a more productive and peaceful life. Furthering the theme of mastery over consciousness, Singer also introduces practices which can free a person from habitual thoughts, emotions, or energy patterns. He posits that, if left unexamined, these patterns could operate as boundaries that inhibit a person from achieving inner peace. Ultimately, Singer uses the idea of mastering one’s inner dialogue as a launchpad for more broadly exploring the concept of consciousness, aimed at achieving enlightenment through self-mastery.
Discussion. Aside from approaching the concept of self-mastery via the path of managing inner dialogue, Singer’s work does not reveal much in terms of novel material. While his Western take on concepts of yoga, meditation, and enlightenment may be new and profound to his subjective experience, these concepts have been central to Eastern philosophies for millennia. The depth and richness of these traditions far exceed Singer’s contributions, with numerous ancient texts and teachings providing profound insights into the nature of consciousness and self-realization. Nonetheless, Singer has reached personal revelation within an ideology – which was foreign to his upbringing – and has since published his work specifically to share his experience with an audience who may likewise be ignorant of these ancient traditions. For that, I applaud his effort.
Conclusion. The Untethered Soul is beneficial for those grappling with managing an incessant inner dialogue but falls short of offering the profound insights found in ancient texts like The Dhammapada or Tao Te Ching. Nonetheless, Singer’s efforts to share his personal revelations are commendable, contributing to the ongoing dialogue on consciousness and spiritual growth.
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